Going into the spring semester, students are getting back into the swing of things. Homework is being assigned, tests are being planned, and student athletes are beginning to prepare for tryouts taking place throughout January. Many of the sports starting this semester have started training their athletes for the rigorous months to come. This routine is no different for the track athletes that have recently started this year’s season. 

     Before tryouts can even occur, conditioning must happen for the sport. The purpose of conditioning is to ensure the athletes are prepped, trained, and ready for the pressures that come with being a track runner. Shin splints and muscle strains are no stranger to many of the students on the team; however, participating in conditioning allows the athletes to adjust to running once again and ensure they don’t cause any injuries to themselves. 

     One of the events during conditioning includes the practice time trial. This is when runners are timed in specific events, such as the 100 and 400 meter dash, to see where they currently stand. The baseline allows the coaches, Coach Sears and Coach Greene, to evaluate which events each athlete will compete in for the year. This then sets up the season’s roster of athletes. 

     In addition, the school’s newly built track is a wonderful addition to the team this year, giving the runners the best conditions possible. New tracks have been implemented in schools all throughout Hillsborough County, Newsomes’ finally coming in right around winter break. 

     Coming from an athlete’s personal perspective, the new track build is bringing with it positive energy for the new year. One of the main things sophomore Izzy Acosta says she is looking forward to is, “…being able to have fun on our new track and all the home meets Newsome is hosting this season.” 

     As the season begins to warm up, the athletes are taking it in stride as they leap into a new year of events and meets across the county.